LAKELAND, FL. – A curious University of Illinois accounting student took his Triumph Bonneville for a ride south of campus one day and noticed that he was traveling faster than several small aircraft flying overhead.
Curiosity led the young Irvin N. Gleim to follow the planes to the local Willard Airport where he discovered the University of Illinois aviation program and that, as a student, he could obtain a Private Pilot certificate by taking “Aviation 101.” He immediately registered for the course.
Dr. Gleim’s first solo flight was October 9, 1964, in an Aeronca Tri-Champ. He obtained his private pilot certificate in January of 1965 from the Institute of Aviation at the University of Illinois while also pursuing his Ph.D. in Accounting. He is a commercial pilot, flight instructor-instrument, and advanced ground instructor. He has served on NATA’s Flight Training Committee and is a member of AOPA, EAA, American Bonanza Society, and the Civil Air Patrol.
More than 50 years later, Dr. Gleim was awarded the prestigious FAA Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award on April 7, 2017, at the Sun N’ Fun International Fly-in & Expo in Lakeland, Florida. Named after the U.S. pioneers of flight, this award, the most prestigious award the FAA issues to pilots under 14 CFR part 61, recognizes individuals who have exhibited professionalism, skill, and aviation expertise for at least 50 years and pilot aircraft as “Master Pilots” with an impeccable safety record. The award recipient must be a U.S. citizen that holds a U.S. Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) or Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) pilot certificate and has 50 or more years of civil and/or military flying experience starting with the nominee’s first solo flight or military equivalent.
The award was presented by Victoria B. Wassmer, deputy administrator for the Federal Aviation Administration. Robert Jex with the FAA Flight Standards District Office in Orlando, Florida, was the event speaker. It was presented at Sun ‘n Fun during a ceremony with seven other pilot recipients of the award and one aviation maintenance technician receiving the Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award. The ceremony opened with an inspirational video reflecting on the history and achievements of the Wright Brothers and Charles Taylor. The association with these early aviation pioneer’s accomplishments signifies the achievements of the award recipients.
Thanks to Dr. Gleim’s inspirational leadership, Gleim Aviation training materials, guides, and practical test prep/flight maneuver books have been used by pilots for every pilot certificate level to successfully pass FAA exams since 1980. More than a million pilots have used Gleim Aviation materials to learn the art and science of flying.
About Gleim Aviation
Since 1980, Gleim Aviation’s team of pilots, instructors, writers, designers, and programmers has helped aviators pass millions of FAA knowledge and practical tests using the unique Gleim knowledge transfer system. Gleim is an environmentally friendly company headquartered in Gainesville, FL. Learn more at www.GleimAviation.com or call (800) 874-5346 ext. 471.
